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twenty-two

ILUM

The planet of Ilum was covered in snow and ice. It was cold and felt distant compared to any other planet Diane had gone to. Yet, held elegance and an almost ancient-like manner to it.

It was a lot like Heaven. At least, Diane thought so.

"Cal," Cere said. "You will be tested."

Cal stood in front of the closed entry.

"Yeah," he replied. "But I'm ready."

"I don't mean just here. Every Jedi faces the dark side."

She pulled out something from behind her back. A lightsaber.

"And it's very easy to fail."

Cal noticed something as she glanced between her saber and him.

"You're still struggling with the dark side. Even after cutting yourself off from the Force."

"We will always struggle. But that is the test. It's the choice to keep fighting that makes us who we are."

She held out her old lightsaber to him and he took it, glancing between both sabers. He clipped them on his belt and looked at her. There was fire in his eyes.

"I guess it's about time I find out who I am."

And the door opened.

"Ilum," Diane spoke up. "Why here?"

Cere walked over to where the angel was sitting.

"This is where many Jedi have found their kyber crystal."

"And this kyber crystal is what causes the lightsaber to work?"

"It works with the Force, resonates with it making it so whoever uses it can center themselves and allow balance with the Force."

"And the red and blue colors?"

"There are other colors, but yes the color of the crystal makes the color of the blade."

"You ready Dee? BD?"

Diane nodded her head.

"Diane can't go Cal, you know that."

Cal felt the ends of his mouth fall.

"R-Right."

"Uh, who's that?"

Cere looked outside and saw a man in a white suit.

"Michael," Diane replied.

Cal whipped his head toward her.

"Don't."

"Cal, you take care of the lightsaber. I'll handle him."

"Diane he could... I don't know, turn you into salt if he wanted to!"

"I know," she said. "But I got this. Trust me."

Cal looked into the angel's eyes and sighed.

"I will hold him off for as long as I can."

She began walking toward the Archangel while Cal went the opposite way.

Cere glanced between the two. She watched as Cal slowed his pace, enough to see Diane hold the Archangel's hand as they flew off somewhere into the unknown.

⤠⤟

Diane stumbled as she looked around. It was another planet.

"Don't worry," Michael said. "I'll take you back to your friends when we're done talking."

"What is this place?"

He sighed.

"This was the planet Daitufi. It had the most luscious trees and beautiful blue waterfalls that had tourists flocking over here. There was a city a few miles from here. I remember talking to a mortal about the weather they were having. It was almost always sunny because most of the mortals here needed a lot of sun in order to survive. The locals didn't eat, they got their food from the sun by literally standing in the sun's rays. It was a very jarring thing for me but I eventually got used to it."

Diane said nothing as he continued.

"But Heaven happened."

The planet they were currently on did not match the descriptions the Archangel said. If there were buildings, trees, and waterfalls, you could not tell. The entire planet looked blank, like a template waiting for someone to draw on.

"What exactly happened?"

"The battle," Michael said. "Hell and Heaven."

"What?"

"There's a war Diane. An ongoing war since the beginning of time. And these planets are being scouted for battlegrounds."

"I know about the war," she whispered. "My friend Daniel fought in it."

"Is fighting in it," he corrected. "It's not over. It never is."

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"No," he shook his head. "I didn't tell you."

He placed two fingers on each temple on the side of her head.

"You told me."

Diane marched down an unfamiliar hallway. They pressed down their white shirt and fixed their bronze-colored vest. They knocked on the door of an office and it immediately opened.

"Yes, Diane?" Michael said.

The angel closed the door and glanced around the room.

"Michael I have something to tell you," they whispered. "But you cannot tell anyone else."

Michael leaned into his seat.

"Diane?"

"Michael," they whispered. "Heaven has been using the angels on the third floor by making them observe planets. Why? Because they're using them as battlefields. They're slaughtering billions of mortals just so they can have at it with hell!"

"What?!" he whispered back. "No, that's not possible. THEY wouldn't allow it."

"Well apparently, no one has asked what THEY think because apparently, THEY aren't here."

"...What?"

"THEY are in the mortal realm and have been so since the early years."

"So then..."

"I don't know who's giving the orders."

Diane took a seat in front of him.

"Michael, I don't like this. This war...it's changing us. It's changing Heaven."

Michael pursed his lips.

Diane gasped and shoved the Archangel backward.

"What?!"

"I know! I know. It's all confusing right now." He glanced around. "I've run out of time. I'm sorry."

He grabbed the angel and within seconds was standing in front of the Mantis, alone.

⤠⤟

Cal was so close. His body was beyond freezing. He thought so since he'd just taken a swim in an ice cave. It was the only way to get to the kyber crystal.

He pulled himself together and crawled on the cold floor toward the glowing blue crystal. His breaths were uneven and he could barely walk in a straight line or even feel anything at all, yet pushed forward.

He extended a hand and with all his remaining strength plucked the crystal from the inverse icicle it sat in. Cal smiled as he cradled it in his hands. The crystal hummed and its light faded in and out.

His smile faded as he watched it snap in two pieces.

"No," he said. His legs gave out and he fell to his knees. "No, no, no, no. No! NO!"

He slumped against an ice boulder.

"It's over... I failed."

He could barely keep his eyes open and he started to feel the coldness consume him.

"Failure is not the end, my friend."

He forced his eyes open and saw BD in his red and white glory.

The droid ran to him and Cal welcomed him with open arms.

"Beooop!"

"Hey, buddy."

BD took a few steps forward and projected something. It was Eno Cordova...and BD.

The hologram of Cordova stood in front of the little holographic droid.

"The time has come. This may be the last you see of me. I can sense the doom of the Jedi Order is upon us."

"Be-bo-boop?"

"No," Eno walked toward BD who had his head down. "Failure is not the end. It is a necessary part of the path. Hope will always survive in those who continue to fight. Like you, BD-1."

He crouched down in front of the droid.

"I believe you will find someone just as brave and persistent as you have been. And you will help them, as you have helped me. But your memory will be completely lost. Are you sure you want to do this?"

There was a moment of hesitation. But BD stood up straight and looked up at Cordova.

"Beep."

Eno took out a drive and placed it in BD's USB ports.

"Beginning total memory encryption. Only with a trusted connection will your memories be restored."

Eno looked fondly at the BD unit.

"I believe in you. As I always have. And I believe in whom you choose to replace me."

He placed a gentle hand on the droid's head.

"Goodbye... Old friend."

The memory stopped and BD's antennas lowered. Anyone looking at him could tell it was a sign of sadness.

"Your memories," Cal said in a small voice. "You risked them for me?"

"Be-beep boop."

He laughed.

"Yeah, I believe in you too buddy."

"Beep."

Cal looked at the broken kyber crystal bundled in his right hand.

"Yeah, you're right. There's still a chance."

"Be-boo bop!"

He turned his head to see a table made of ice, most likely used by Padawans of the past when they created their lightsabers.

Cal forced himself to stand up.

"There's always a chance."

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